"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale" of a time when television shows began with awesome TV Theme Songs. "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name" and sometimes you want to go back to when TV Theme songs were special. "Here's a story... of a lovely" time when TV Theme Songs served to identify, distinguish and set the stage for the television program that followed. "You take the good, take the bad, take them both and there you have" what unfortunately has become a lost artform. "Believe it or not", sadly it seems no effort or pride is taken in the TV Theme Song ever since Seinfeld proved a short synth-bass riff could be used instead. “Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!” This regular feature may not "make all our dreams come true", but it will remember some of the best TV Theme Songs from years past (with a focus on the '80s decade). "Come aboard, we're expecting you."
This time we will cover the theme song for Pryor's Place. "Let's get on over to Pryor's Place. We're gonna party, so don't be late. Everyone's welcome at Pryor's Place, where we can laugh at our own mistakes. You don't have to be perfect to be a part, just have love and plenty of heart." Pryor's Place was a live-action series starring the great Richard Pryor which debuted in September of 1985 and aired on CBS Saturday mornings alongside many cartoon shows. The show was aimed at children and featured a cast of puppets in a friendly inner-city environment, along with several children, adult guest-stars and a variety of characters portrayed by Pryor himself. The series surprisingly only lasted one season and 13 episodes. Many people may barely remember the show itself, let alone its theme song.
The theme song for Pryor's Place is notable because it was both composed by and performed by Ray Parker Jr. who most know had a huge hit in 1984 with "Ghostbusters". Ray Parker Jr. also appeared in the show's opening credits singing the theme song. Here is the opening for Pryor's Place featuring the theme song by Ray Parker Jr...
Despite being cancelled after one season, Pryor's Place was nominated for a Humanitas Prize in the Children’s Live-Action Category (for episode titled "Home Free”) as well as nominated for several 1985 Daytime Emmy awards including Outstanding Children's Series and went on to win two for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction/Set Decoration/Scenic Design and Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design. And it had the guy who sang "Ghostbusters" doing its theme song, too. "Let's get on over to Pryor's Place. We're gonna have a good time today. Got plenty of friends who live down the street, the craziest people you'll ever meet. On Pryor's Place."
Hope you enjoyed tuning in for another "episode" of TV Theme Songs!